I'm hearing Vooices.us; voice driven interactive marketing

One of our goals at And Digital is to keep abreast of the latest digital marketing technologies, particularly those that are springing up from the vibrant northwest software community.

One such new service is Vooices.us, an open API for integrating voice control into web applications. Already the company has created demos for ID authentication for Twitter, a 'Brain Training'-style game, and control of Google Maps.

Check out the demos at http://www.vooices.us.

What is a digital agency?

A year ago I wrote this piece for Manchester Digital's newsletter. It caused a bit of a kerfuffle, for reasons that will become clear as you read it:

"Who advises your clients on strategy? It probably isn't you.

Ad buyers wield the biggest budgets and the most power. A relationship with a long-standing PR company carries weight. Digital agencies come a long way down the list of influencers.

This is wrong.

The greatest influence should be wielded by those with the greatest insight and the most to offer. Digital agencies offer the greatest ROI. Only we can measure the success of on and offline campaigns. We have the clearest instincts about how to target anyone under 35.

Yet we have failed to grasp the reins of power. While we have worried about acronyms and aesthetics, traditional marketeers, adept at wielding influence, have been eating our lunch (and certainly drinking our drinks).

It's time for change. We need to recognise our ability to shape not just campaigns but our clients' whole sales and marketing function. Too often the digital industry is dismissed as artists, freaks and geeks. We should be recognised as the new emperors."

One year on, has anything changed? I like to think so. I've had conversations with clients in the last six months that have ranged higher up their internal management structure than before. I've seen clients clawing back offline budget to support innovative (and measurable) online campaigns.

The combination of changed economic climate and the continuing march of digital is driving digital agencies to the forefront. The question is, are all agencies equipped to advise at this level?

And Digital: Why not...

It seems that content is king once more. Technology has provided us with a vast array of platforms for the creation and sharing of ideas communicated through a range of different media. This content bounces back and forth between people and brands, in a constant stream of conversations.

These conversations are what excite us at And Digital. We want to build conversations between our clients and their customers in a way that is appropriate and effective, valuable and measurable.

We're not tied to one platform or technology, and we're always looking for the next big thing; new ideas that could enhance our clients' marketing. Because of this broad ambition our services are equally broad. We bring together strategists, creatives and technologists to create original solutions for every client.

The desire to start conversations has driven us to choose this format our own online presence. We want this site to be a forum for ideas and debate between our own people, our customers, our partners, and perhaps even our competitors.

So come on, join the conversation.